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17
By comparison with the death rate of 1954, there is a small
increase of 0.2, which is negligible, particularly as the increase
includes the rise in infant mortality to which reference has already
been made.

The most encouraging feature of these figures is the continued
fall in the death rate from tuberculosis, but the number of deaths
attributable to this disease cannot be expected to fall much further
until the disease has been eliminated from the community entirely.
There is, unfortunately, a reverse tendency in the case of nontuberculous
respiratory diseases, but this is probably only to be
expected with an ageing population.
There were eighteen deaths from violence, including four motor
vehicle accidents, seven other accidents, and seven suicides, and
although an unnecessary loss of eighteen lives is a tragedy, at least
one can say that this number is one less than during the previous
year.
Cancer of the Lung, to which reference has previously been
made in this report, accounted for 25 deaths, which was three less
than in 1954. With such comparatively small numbers this change
is of no significance statistically, but it is preferable to having to
record an increase.
It is pleasing to report that for the sixth year in succession
there were no maternal deaths in the Borough, but, unfortunately,
the infant death rate has risen from 20.6 in 1954, to 31.6 during the
year under review. This compares unfavourably with the national
figure which is 24.9. This large percentage increase over the year
represents nine additional deaths and. as I have already said, is
probably just an unfortunate incident which one trusts will not be
repeated.